Instagram hits 100 million active users

Instagram posted this celebratory picture on its own feed today to announce that 100 million users now share images via the app monthly. The company invited users to share what Instagram means to them using the hashtag #InstagramMeansToMe and plans feature some photos on the Instagram official account.

Instagram has officially announced it's hit the 100 million active users mark.

The social photo sharing app remains the most prevalent network for sharing images worldwide. Launched in October 2010, the platform has seen exponential growth since. The app actually reached the 100 million registered users mark by September 2012, according to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, which purchased Instagram at a $1 billion pricetag in April of last year. Today's 100 million users number refers to those who post images via the app on a monthly basis.

The achievement is proof of continued success despite what seemed to be major catastrophe for the company recently: an announcement of forthcoming changes to Instagram’s Terms of Service sent to users in December. Many were outraged at language that seemed to imply Instagramers' photos could be potentially used in some form of advertising in the future. Instagram responded by rewording the language, but some users were adamant in their choice to close their accounts following the ToS changes.

Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom shared some poignant thoughts about what the milestone meant today, which he posted on Instagram's blog:

"It’s easy to see this as an accomplishment for a company, but I think the truth is that it’s an accomplishment for our community. Now, more than ever, people are capturing the world in real-time using Instagram—sharing images from the farthest corners of the globe. What we see as a result is a world more connected and understood through photographs."

First the TOS resulted in reports of 40% of leaving users and now they have an incredible total increase. I wonder what is really happening. At least half of my IG connects left the ship end of december. Many good ones too.

These 40% leaving were wrong number inducted by approximations made from untrustworthy tools. The numbers shared by Instagram themselves are the only credible ones: 90M monthly active users in mid January, 100M monthly active today.I'm surprised to hear you've noticed people deleting their IG account among your friends, I certainly haven't noticed anything on my side, but I don't follow any photographer (nor people who truly care about their photos, really)

You have to keep a close eye on what numbers are being reported. There are "people who ever signed up," "people who have downloaded the app," "people who currently have an account," "people who use Instagram at least once a month, and "people who use Instagram pretty much every day."

It was that last category that Instagram got clobbered on. The most active users — the daily users — left in massive numbers in January. Less-active users continued to join.

As was clearly noted in this article, Instagram's "people who currently have an account" number hit 100 million last September (prior to TOS-gate), and this announcement is about "people who use Instagram at least once a month" hitting 100 million.

After getting a billion from FB what are the plans to make money? Or was the purchase just a way to get at some technology that IG had? Charging for IG will shrink their user base dramatically I would think as there are free services to choose from.Selling users images will upset others as the recent TOS fracas showed.I am watching with interest to se if we are witnessing a repeat of the late 90's when companies without any path to profitability zoomed in value and then evaporated when the market realized the emperor had no clothes (or worse, no earnings. I'm looking at you Groupon)

About 90% of Instagram users are mobile so majority if not all (except Nokia Pureview) photos uploaded have mediocre quality. Blown highlights and smeary results which are hidden in an insta-filter to get a good 3x2 inches photo which are good for all mobile devices nowadays.

Oliver, I think the point he was trying to make is by applying one or two out of a handful of pre-baked effects a bad photograph is still a bad photograph. The standards for being creative these days, especially in the realms of social media, are dismally low. "Hey, if I take a picture of a garbage bin, give it some grain, a sepia tone, and some horrible vignetting the filthy refuse is now suitable for viewing and admiration of all of humanity!"

But what's the point of his point? Even if his made up statistics were based on actual data it's still an irrelevant and aimless set of comments. Why the hell should he care about the mediocrity?

It's time for my turn at some made up statistics then! If just 1% of 1% of the 100 million users were quality mobile photographers, that means there's 10,000 photographers worth following and interacting with on Instagram. And you can choose who to follow, so you don't have to follow anyone you don't want to follow!

Instead of looking for the 1% of 1% (made up number don't quote) people, he's overwhelmed by the mediocrity that he chooses to focus on the un-inspiring. In complaining about the boring, he's become boring himself.

Congrats to @instagram for building such an amazing platform, now, with over 100 million active, monthly users, and thanks for such a great community!

IG is a connecting platform. A truly global, real-time, life-sharing, visual, experience, that not only helps you to change your perspective when you allow your creative flow, but it also inevitably brings photography to many that hold a mobile device. ..and it reinvigorates, and, reunites it with those that once loved Photography too. Not to mention how much Instagram has changed our lives in so many profound ways, either directly or indirectly. It's been a catalyst that's allowed a whole world to open up.. a foundation for our expression!. So I want to say again, THANK YOU INSTAGRAM!

Uhm yes it does, especially when its 100% ownership it means they pretty much call the shots if they want to. Subsidiaries which maintain their identity are usually only partially held. Do you think ATI is not AMD or Hotmail is not Microsoft?

I agree for the time being but that will change, always does. I've been through too many mergers and acquisitions to hope for anything different. People who resist the change will be forced out regardless of who is in the right (and I'm usually the one doing the forcing).